Torpedo-net.



E. SCHEELKE.

TORPEDO NET.-

APPLICATION FILED APILZI, I917.

1,240,495. PatentedSept. 18, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

A TTORJVE .1 1

E. SCHE ELKE-V TORPEDO NET.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2!. 1917.

Patented Sept. 18,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

EMIL SGHEELKE, OF ST. LQUIS, MISSOURI.

TORPEDOJVET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept-18, 1917.

Application filed April 21, 1917. Serial No. 163,618.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL Sorrnnnnn, a sub ect of the Emperor of Germany residmg at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-elets, of which the following 1s a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in torpedo nets; and it consists in the novel features of construction more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

The present invention is directed to torpedo nets for the protection of battle ships and other vessels, the object sought being to provide a torpedo-supporting frame or frames foldable against the sides of the ship or unfolded to lower the netting into position whether the ship be standing still or under full or partial headway. Where a ship is in danger of attack by a torpedo it is important that the netting be lowered with as little delay as possible and without the necessity of bringing the vessel to a standstill for the purpose of lowering the netting. A further object is to provide an armor of the character designated which shall offer a minimum resistance to the passage of the ship through the water, whether the netting be in its lowered or unfolded position or in its raised or folded position. A further object is to provide a mechanism which may be under ready control and easy of manipulation; one which is simple, resilient under impact of the torpedo, and one possessing further and other advantages better apparent from the following detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the hull of a battle ship showing my invention applied thereto with net lowered; Fig. 2 is a top planof the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section on the line 83 of Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a similar section showing however the net raised out of the water; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the bow end of the ship with the net raised out of the water; and Fig. 6 is a front end view show. ing the net lowered into the water.

Referring to the drawings, S represents the outline of a conventional form of hull of a battle ship to which my invention may be applied, it being understood of course that the invention may be applied to any' vessel whatsoever, the necessary changes to adapt it to different types of vessels falling within the purview of the skilled mechanic. Hinged along the side parallel walls of the hull are a series of vertically oscillating sweep arms or levers 1, the same being preferably forked at their inner portions, the fork members being pivoted to terminal lugs orears a of the brackets 2. Hinged to the converging sides of the bow and stern of the hull are similar sweep arms or levers 1, all the members 1, 1, oscillating in vertical parallel transverse planes and in unison, the terminal levers 1, 1, being pivoted to suitable brackets 3. Hinged at intermediate points from the several levers 1, 1, on each side of the hull is a net supporting frame F, the same comprising horizontal structural members or bars spaced apart and reinforced at intervals by cross pieces or stifieners 4:, said cross pieces dividing the frame into panels each of which supports a net N, the net being secured along its several edges to the frame by means of coiled springs '5 which cause the net to yield when impinged by a torpedo. The height of the frame F is such that when the levers 1, 1, are lowered, the net will reach even with the bottom of the hull and be submerged below the water line w, and when the levers are elevated or folded against the hull, the net will be lifted out of the water (Figs. i, 5). The ends of the frames F are curved to conform to the curvature of the hull, the forward terminals of the frames being pivctally connected to a toggle-lever frame F which projects a suitable distance in front of the bow of the vessel when the net is in service position (Figs. 1 and 2). This toggle net-frame F comprises upper and lower members hinged to the corresponding members of the frame F, the outer terminals of the toggles being connected by a vertical hinge member or rod 6 which may be considered as a part of the frame. The manner of hinging or suspending the net-frame from the sweep arms 1, 1, is immaterial and is within the purview of the skilled mechanic. Hinged at the bottom of the frame F, at the bases of the stifiener bars 1 are struts 7 which are of such a length that when the sweep arms or levers 1, 1, are lowered, the free ends of the struts will bear against the free ends of the sweep arms and form a support therefor (Figs. 1, 2, 3,) said struts being'inclined outwardly from the sides of the ship when the parts are lowered into service position. When the several parts are elevated or folded against the ship, the arms 1, 1, will engage the sides of the vessel, the frame F hanging vertically close to the vessel, and the struts 7 folding against the frame (Fig. 4). The elevation and lowering of the several parts is preferably accomplished by vmeans of cables winding over and unwinding. from suitable drums operated from a single shaft driven by a suitable motor. In the present embodiment of my invention I dispose longitudinally of the hull a suitable shaft 8 driven by a motor M.- Carried by the shaft opposite each sweep arm 1, 1, (it being understood that the sweep arms on opposite sides of the ship are diametrically opposite one another) are step drums or spools, the large drum section 9 operating on cables m leading to the free ends of the sweep arms 1, 1, the next smaller section 9 operating on cables m passing loosely through the free ends of the sweep arms and connected to the free ends of the struts 7, and the smallest drum section 9 operating on cables m which are connected to suitable lugs 10 at pointsadjacent the hinge axes of the frames F. The several cables pass over suitable guide 'rollers r, r, placed where most convenient as shown on the drawings.

By a reference to Fig. 3, it will be obvious that in order to lift the net out of the water, that is to say, to fold the parts against the side of the ship, the shaft 8 must be turned in proper direction to exert a draft or pull in a given direction on the cables m, m, whereupon said cables will wind on their respective drums 9, 9, the sweep of the frame F, under the circumstances however being such as to. exert apull in the opposite direction on the cable m so that the latter must unwind from its spool 9". The cables m, m, m, on opposite sides of the shaft 8 pass overtheir respective drums or spools 9, 9, in such a way that as the cables m, m, wind on their spools, the cables m" will unwind, and vice versa. The travel of the cables m being greatest, it follows that they must be connected to the largest drumor spool S; the travel of the cables m being somewnat less, these cables pass over the next smaller drum 9, he smallest drum 9" being proportioned to accommodate the travel of the cables m. Obviously in order that corresponding cables from opposite sides may simultaneously wind on and unwind from the same spool or drum they naturally must pass over the spool in reverse directions (Figs. 2, 3, 4). It will be seen from Fig. 3 that a draft on the cables m, we, will elevate the arms 1, 1, causing the same to be folded against the side of the ship (Fig. l) and the struts 7 being caused to leave the sweep arms and folding, against the frame F, the said frame being drawn or pulled upward with the sweep of said arms and imposing a draft on the cable m which is free to pay out or unwind from the drum 9 while the cables m, m are winding over their respective drums 9, 9. To lower the net frame when once elevated (Fig. 4:) the shaftS is given a rotation in the opposite direction so as to allow the cables on, m, to unwind,- the release of these cables being sufiicient to allow the parts to drop under the action of gravity. When the parts are being lowered there naturally will be a draft exerted on the cable m by reason of the latter winding on the drum 9. This draft assists gravity in starting the net in its downward direction. it is ob vious that the toggle frame F permits the frames F, F, oneither side thereof to freely fold and unfold or raise and lower, the hinged character of said toggle frame making the latter responsive to the movements of the side frames.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the compactness of the general arrangement of the parts permits of a. lowering or raising of the net not only when the ship is standing still, but while under-headway. The lowering of the net may be quickly accomplished so that an attack by a torpedo may be re sisted in time before the missile has a chance to impinge against the body of the vessel. it is obvious that I may resort to.,many changes in details without departing. from either the nature or spirit of my invention. Features shown but not alluded to are well understood in the art and require no description in the present connection. The netframe as, a whole conforms to the shape of the vessel and hence ofiers a minimum-re.- sistance' to the travel of the ship when lowered into the water.

lj'laving described my invention what I claim is:

1. In combination with a vessel, a series of vertically swinging members hinged to the sides of the vessel, a frame pivotally suspended from intermediate points along said members, struts hinged at their lower ends to the frame and operating to. engage the free endsof the swinging members for a lowered position of the members, means for elevating said members, and anetting stretched across the frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a vessel, a series of vertically swinging members hinged to the sides of the vessel, a frame pivotally sus pended from intermediate points along the members, struts hinged at their lower ends to the frame and operating. to engage the free ends of the swingingmembers, cables leading from the free ends of the struts and passing through the free ends of the swingmg, members, cables leading from the free ends of the swinging members, cables leading from points adjacent the hinged connections between the frame aforesaid and the swinging members, and suitable rotatable drums on the vessel for the Winding and unwinding of the cables aforesaid.

3. In combination with a vessel, a series of vertically swinging sweep arms hinged at one end to the sides of the vessel, a netframe pivotally suspended from intermediate points of the sweep arms, struts hinged at their lower ends at the lower edge of the net-frame and of a length to engage with their free ends the free ends of the sweep arms for a lowered position of the netframe, a drive shaft disposed parallel to the length of the ship, drums on the shaft opposite the several sweep arms, cables leading from the drums respectively to the free ends of the sweep arms, to the free ends of the struts through the sweep arms, and to points adjacent the hinge axis of the netframe, guide rollers for the cables, the several cables being adapted to wind on and unwind from, their respective drums according to the direction of rotation of the shaft and according as the net-frame is raised or lowered to respond to such rotation, and a toggle net-frame hinged to the forward ends of the side frames.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EMIL SCHEELKE'. Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, EL'sn M. SIEGEL.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C." 

